Baker Walks! Or Something Like That.

After 20 hours (?!) of deliberation, which has to be some kind of record, the Office of Judicial Affairs decided to clear Baker of any punishment. I've been trying hard not to follow this story so I don't know very many details, but I would have paid $5 (the same price someone would have to pay to watch this) to see the following play out:

"I just ... jumped up and down and was screaming. That felt real good," Baker said of his reaction to the verdict. "It's just one obstacle down, two more to go."

I'm not going to jump to conclusions here, but holy hell listen to this:

"I just explained how no one actually identified me as a participant in the fight. I just proved how people misidentified me, and there was no evidence to say I actually touched anyone," he said.

Nothing says "I did it" like using the defense "prove it was me! you can't! Muahahahah". I mean comeon.

Exhibit A from the hearing, notice that no positive identifications can me made, hoary "Innocent until proven guilty"!

In all seriousness, if they couldn't prove him guitly then I'm glad it turned out this way, but I doubt he's totally clean on this. I think in most houses this could have been resolved rather quickly with a slap to the back of the head and a comment that goes something like "well why the hell were you even there?"

He still faces criminal charges.

Fulmer Cup Update: Penn State On The Board, Sort Of

Photo via EDSBS

Just eight short days after the announcement of the Fulmer Cup Theme Song, Penn State is on the board. Last year's runner-up makes the top five despite not scoring a single point, which is...impressive?

Well, the replay official in the booth can't decide if Baker being re-ordered to stand trial, an offense that was perpetrated last season and scored then as well, should be allowed to re-count.

My take? I'm with EDSBS on this one, it's a tough call. On one side, you have the kid showing up on ESPN every month for the same crime, so to simple count it as one assault appears to understate the stupidity of the whole thing. Then again, just because they show the replay of a late first half touchdown in the third quarter doesn't mean said team should be allowed an additional six points on the scoreboard.

For the record, we were this close to having a full blown Big Ten Fulmer Cup Preview with some of our Big Ten brotherin, but like the 2007 Penn State football team, it lacked leadership (my fault) and therefore never reached it's full potential. Look for some kind of mid-Fulmer season poll down the road...

If at first you don't succeed

Welcome to the first drunk post of the holidays. Its a wonderful time indeed.

So lets get down to the point of the post, which does, in fact, relate to the title.

The Centre County DA has refiled federal charges against Bowmand and Baker. Now I'm not here to defend these guys, especially Baker, but come the fuck on.

The DA has a history of picking on football players. In just the past 2 or 3 years you can come up with half a dozen examples. Now I know football player, historically, tend to get the benifit of the doubt, but I would argue in S.C. they do not. Mr. [name redacted], you swung for the fenses. The judge, without the case even going to trial, told you to go F yourself. So what do you do? You re-file the charges like a five year old.

According to Baker's lawyer:

"The commonwealth is abusing its authority and has selectively identified two individuals it believes is responsible for these alleged crimes, and is shirking its responsibility to bring everyone responsible into court."